One of my favorite rhythms to interpret and immerse myself in is wahda. It has a distinctly languid feel, and can be heard in both classical and popular Arabic music. Wahda is often used in the sung verses or slower parts of the song, usually where the voice or melody is the highlight. While it has [...]
Raqs Sharqi Archive
Rhythm for Dancers – Wahda
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Rhythm for Dancers
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010Music is at the heart of Middle Eastern dance. It is our muse, our inspiration. In order to work with the music, to do it justice, we need to understand it theoretically as well as emotionally. Rhythm is the foundation of Arabic music, so it is fundamental to the dance to understand your rhythms. Here [...]
Raqs Sharqi
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010A succinct yet thorough overview of the dance style Raqs Sharqi.
Moving in Ecstasy
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009This academic article investigates Laura Mulvey’s concept of the “male gaze” and its pertinence as a feminist critique on the artform of Raqs Sharqi in a Middle Eastern context. My aim is to bring about a more informed position from which to view, judge, and, for those of us so inclined, present specific performances of this highly individual and cultural art form.
